Smoke forced an evacuation Sunday morning from New Covenant United Methodist Church.
Smoke was discovered in the chapel shortly before the beginning of the 7:45 a.m. service at the church, said NCUMC Multimedia Worship Assistant David Berardi.
He said it appeared to be emanating from an air conditioning unit, he said.
The Villages Public Safety Department responded quickly and in full force to the church located on Woodridge Drive behind the Southern Trace shopping center.
Those who were in the church were immediately evacuated. However, most parishioners were arriving in the church parking lot when they saw firetrucks and other emergency response vehicles.
Jocelyn Dunstan of the Village of Bonnybrook had just pulled her vehicle into the parking lot.
“I could see people coming out and I knew something was going on,” she said.
Sandy Trammell of the Village of Silver Lake has been attending the church for nine years. She found a little humor in the situation.
“I told my Sunday School teacher if he wasn’t ready for the class, he didn’t have to do this,” she said.
Senior Pastor Harold Hendren was in the parking lot consulting with church leaders and public safety officials.
“Fortunately, no one was injured,” he said.
